Car giant Ford today announced 680 voluntary job losses under plans to improve efficiency.
The redundancies would be spread throughout the company, including the huge factory in Dagenham, Essex, the firm said.
The company said it aimed to achieve 625 hourly paid and 55 staff redundancies.
The company stressed that workers would be offered the chance to accept voluntary redundancy.
Ford employs many workers in Essex, at the Dagenham factory, the Dunton research centre, Basildon's radiator plant and offices at Trafford House, Basildon and Warley, near Brentwood.
Ford said the voluntary redundancy programme would begin immediately and finish towards the end of July.
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